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Ronnie Hawkins
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Hawkins brought roadhouse rock' n' roll and
rockabilly music to Canada. Coming to this country for
the first time in 1958, he eventually settled in Toronto in
1962, buying and playing at his own Hawk's Nest Bar.
In the mid-'60s he even started his own Hawk record label
in Canada.
Throughout his long career, 'the Hawk' has come teasingly
close to the big time. In the 50s, he had two singles
on the Billboard Top 100 and appeared on Dick Clark's American
Bandstand. In the 60's, Hawkins helped launch the careers
of some of Canada's key rock 'n' rollers. His Toronto
backup band, The Hawks, left him to seek fame and fortune
on their own - renamed The Band, they went on to become what
many have called "the greatest rock band in history."
The 64-year-old father of three has led a legendary life.
In fact, 'the Hawk's' larger than life personality has, at
times, almost overshadowed his career as a singer/songwriter.
Hawkins has been both rich and poor, fashioned a film career
(Heaven's Gate, Renaldo and Clara), and even played for U.S.
President Bill Clinton.
With insight from family, friends and past band members,
including Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm and David Foster, Life
and Times traces Hawkins' musical past with visits to
Woodstock, N.Y., L.A. via Memphis and Nashville, Hawkins'
Hollow deep in the Ozarks and his present home near Peterborough,
Ontario.
Original Air Date - January 4, 2000
Links
The
Official Ronnie Hawkins Web site
More
about Ronnie Hawkins
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